“You were looking for me?”
She stood up and he took her hand, walking with her back to the parking lot. “I left Sunny Mac’s as soon as I could, but you were gone and you weren’t at your apartment or the paper. I even checked Evergreen.”
“I still don’t understand what’s going on. Nothing makes sense. Nothing at all.”
“I’d like to thank my parents for that,” he said with a smile. “Take a drive with me?”
She nodded, and he helped her into his truck. Once they were on the highway, he started talking again.
“I really wanted to surprise you, Apple, but it backfired on me. I lied about my flight getting delayed, but I didn’t lie about meeting with the parents of the girl I love.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“At the luncheon, Molly asked Jellie to set her up with you.”
“Wow. She’s persistent.”
“I said you ought to have a say.”
“That was... nice of you.”
“Actually, it was a cop-out. I should have told them that you were mine and I love you.”
Reaching across the console between them, he grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I love you, too, and you didn’t have to say anything to them. I can handle whatever they try to dish out because I have you and I’m a man who knows who the right woman for him is.”
He pulled into an unfamiliar driveway and parked his truck, then got out and opened her door. “Come inside with me and I’ll explain everything.”
Heart pounding, she walked inside, only to find his parents in the kitchen.
“You’re just in time, sweetie,” Preston’s mom said, moving to kiss her cheek. “Preston said you were a fan of carrot cake.”
“I love it,” she said, her voice almost trembling.
Sam fixed four glasses of sweet tea. “Preston said you like a lot of ice, so I gave you all of his.”
Apple giggled and took the glass from him. “Thank you.”
Preston pulled out her chair. “I’d be honored if you’d have dessert with my parents and me.”
Understanding dawned on her. He’d taken her home to meet his parents. Sure, they already knew her, but she was in their house, sitting at their table, and being treated like an honored guest.
Suddenly, her parents walked in the kitchen, her sisters behind them.
“What are you doing here?” she asked as shock stole through her. Cherry winked and nodded toward Preston, so Apple swung back around to look at him.
Preston got down on one knee and pulled out a black box. “I met with your parents again today and talked with your sisters. They’ve all given their blessings for me to ask you one question.”
“Yes! My answer is yes,” she all but squealed. She tried to get up, but Preston put his hand on her leg.
“I really want to do this right.”
She grinned, happy tears on her face. “Go on then.”
“Will you, Apple Rosalind McCoy, do me the honor of becoming my wife? I promise to love you, eat messy Italian dinners in bed in the nude with you, and always take you home to visit my parents on Sunday afternoons for the rest of my life.”
“My answer is still yes.” This time, she launched herself into his arms, not caring about the ring he was still holding. That wasn’t what was important to her.
It was this that was... being surrounded by family while the man she loved held her tight.
*
Two weeks later
Apple, walking hand in hand with her sisters, marched into the McCoy’s monthly luncheon, making everyone gasp. Jellie stood at the front, momentarily stunned by their appearance.
“Move over, Jellie,” Apple said, coming to stand beside her. “This emergency session was called by—”
Jellie bumped her with her hip. “You don’t have the right to—”
Viola McCoy, along with a table full of senior McCoy women, stood up. “We gave her the right.”
Pearl McCoy joined Viola. “Sit down, Jellie McCoy, before you ruin what we started.”
“Yes, Momma.” Jellie hurried to the table where her sisters sat.
“I want to thank the founders of the McCoy Luncheon for having me here today. I won’t take up too much of your time.”
“I came here today to set two things straight... and perhaps suggest where we should go from here. First, I am in love with Preston Lawson and I won’t apologize for that. He isn’t a substitute for anyone. He loves me as I am, has never asked me to change, and flew all the way to Jamaica just to apologize, even though he did nothing wrong.”
There were audible gasps in the room.
“Second, I refuse to be part of another matchmaking scheme, and I would encourage y’all do to so the same. The women and men in this town don’t need us to do things for them or treat them like children. We should work with them, listen to what they want, and, if needed, offer our help. To that end, I agree with Jellie’s proposal of opening the club to all women in Jessamine who would like to gather together for the purpose of networking and making lasting friendships.”
“That’s it?” Jellie said, clearly annoyed. “I thought you were finally going to confess to being the town’s biggest bitch.”
Cherry moved Apple out of the way. “Oh honey, you’ve must have gotten me confused with my sister. And in case you didn’t know—the bitch is back. But I’m only going to be a bitch to the women who use their powers for evil. You got me, Jellitan?”
“What Cherry means,” Lemon began. “is that she’s moving back to Jessamine and looks forward to spending time with everyone.”
“No, I didn’t mean that, Lemon.”
“Thank you for your time.” Apple smiled. “Enjoy the rest of your luncheon.”
They walked out as one, not bothering to turn around even as the room once more turned into a chorus of voices that were shouting over one another.
“They don’t know what just hit them,” Apple said.
“The original McCoys hit them.” Lemon pushed open the door.
“Life’s not going to be the same with us off the market,” Cherry said.
Apple shrugged. “No, it’s already much, much better.”
Epilogue
Eight years later
“Daddy! Look at me, I’m a superhero.”
Preston closed the lid to the grill and turned to his daughter. She ran across the backyard, a cape flying out behind her while her tutu sparkled in the afternoon sun. Her red hair, held back by a headband monogrammed with her initials, was even brighter.
“Help me, Super Iris.” He fell to the ground, holding out his hand and pretending to be in a great deal of pain.
“I’m coming to rescue you, Daddy,” Iris said, making a beeline for him. She tackle-hugged him, and he squeezed her tight while praising her for her strength and speed.
“And I’m smart.”
“The smartest.”
“And pretty.”
“Just like your momma,” he agreed.
“I don’t know. Her daddy isn’t too shabby looking,” Apple said as she joined them, their son Hayes holding her hand.
“Hey you, how was work?” he asked. Apple had been working with a publisher to tell the stories of the forgotten men and women who were residents of assisted-living centers in eastern North Carolina.
Apple smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m almost done compiling the stories. Hayes was a big help. He literally ripped up the ones he didn’t like.”
Preston laughed. “Hey, big boy. Want to play superhero with your big sister and me?” He held out his hands to his three-year-old son, but unlike his five-year-old sister, he wasn’t outgoing. “Maybe next time.”
Hayes let go of Apple and plopped down in Preston’s lap next to Iris. He leaned right against him, and Preston thought his heart would burst.
“Don’t move,” Apple said as she pulled out her phone and quickly snapped their picture. “That’s a keeper.”
“Don’t
just stand there, beautiful. Join us. I’ve got enough room on my lap for you.”
With a giggle, Apple smoothed her hair and sat down beside him until he pulled her over with one arm wrapped behind her.
“Your daddy is so strong.”
“That’s where my super strength comes from,” Iris proclaimed.
He took the phone from Apple and snapped a picture of the four of them. “Huh. I thought it came from the sun.”
Iris shook her head. “Nope. Mommy said it’s from you.”
“I think it’s from both of us.” His eyes met Apple’s over their kids’ heads. “You two got the best of the McCoys and the Lawsons.”
“And I got the best of the Lawsons when I married you,” Apple said.
“I love you, Mrs. Lawson.”
“And I love you.”
Sneak Peek of Love So Wild—Elijah Lawson and Skye Holland’s book
Elijah Lawson had always been partial to redheads. Add in a sexy tattoo to the middle of her slender back and he was a goner.
The redhead standing in the window of the old drugstore on Laurel as she arranged bottles of varying heights fit the bill. He walked inside, curious as to what she was doing.
“Hi, how can I help you?” she asked.
“Not sure,” he said, trying like hell not to be stupefied by the beauty of her face or the freckles that covered it. He was such a goner for freckles, too. Okay, so he was into women’s bodies and he wouldn’t apologize for that. “What are you selling?”
“Love potions. Poisons. Curses. Things of that nature.”
“Sweet. Not in the market for that at the moment, though.” Elijah grinned and held out his hand. “I’m Elijah Lawson. I own Whiskey Hollow, which makes us practically neighbors.”
“Nice to meet you.” She took his hand and gave it a firm shake. “Not sure where that is, but I’ll take your word on it.”
He didn’t let go of her hand. Felt too good to let it go. She had the softest skin he’d ever touched.
“Kinda need that hand to finish my display,” she said.
He let go. “New in town, huh?”
“Just moved here from Holland Springs. My sisters own Carolina Dreams, and I thought I’d start a sister store here.”
“Really? My sister-in-law has relatives living there.”
“Oh?” The redhead’s copper-colored brows rose. “What’s her name?”
“Skylar Lawson.”
“Her maiden name.”
“Um...” He snapped his fingers. “Jernigan.”
“Sorry, don’t know her.” She went back to arranging the display. “Let me know if you have any other questions.”
He ran his hand through his hair, not sure what was going on. Usually, people liked to talk to him—whether they knew him or not. It was one of the reasons he loved being a pilot for hire. He never knew who he’d meet or where he’d go.
“I do have a question. Two questions to be exact.”
She looked at him expectantly. “I hope to have an answer or two, then.”
“What’s your name?”
“Skye Holland.” She flicked her gaze over him. “And the second question?”
“Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”
Preorder order LOVE SO WILD now!
More Books By Marquita Valentine
The Lawson Brothers
Love So Hot
Love So True
Love so Irresistible
Love So Tempting
Love So Perfect
Love So Unexpected
Love So Right
Love So Wild
The Brides of Holland Springs Series
The Billionaire Bride
The Temporary Bride
The Forgotten Bride
The Christmas Bride (May 2016)
The Scottish Bride (May 2016)
Seducing the Billionaire Series
Seducing the Billionaire’s Wife
Seducing the Billionaire’s Secretary
Seducing the Billionaire’s Brother
Take the Fall Series
Take the Fall
When We Fall
After We Fall
Hard to Fall
Holland Springs Series
Drive Me Crazy
Driving To You
Twice Tempted
Third Time’s a Charm
His Christmas Wish
Just Desserts
Not Over You
Be Mine
About the Author
Marquita Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the sexy contemporary romance and hot romantic suspense.
Since first taking the plunge in July of 2012 to self-publish, Marquita Valentine has appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling Ebooks Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes&Noble multiple times. She’s been called “one of the best new voices in romance,” (Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews) and her books have been accused of being “a sexy, fun, and slightly addicting contemporary read,” (The Book Queen).
When she’s not writing sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to her high school sweetheart, Marquita lives in a seriously small town in the south with her husband, two kids, and a dog.
www.marquitavalentine.com
www.facebook.com/AuthorMarquitaValentine
Newsletter
Love So Right (The Lawson Brothers #7) Page 11